Plutarch: Trending quotes (page 8)

“Socrates thought that if all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap, whence every one must take an equal portion, most persons would be contented to take their own and depart.”

Plutarch

Consolation to Apollonius

Personality

“One made the observation of the people of Asia that they were all slaves to one man, merely because they could not pronounce that syllable No.”

Plutarch

Of Bashfulness
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

People

“When Darius offered him ten thousand talents, and to divide Asia equally with him, "I would accept it," said Parmenio, "were I Alexander." "And so truly would I," said Alexander, "if I were Parmenio." But he answered Darius that the earth could not bear two suns, nor Asia two kings.”

Plutarch

42 Alexander
Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders

Sun

“By these criteria let Alexander also be judged! For from his words, from his deeds, and from the instruction' which he imparted, it will be seen that he was indeed a philosopher.”

Plutarch book Moralia

On the Fortune Of Alexander, I, 4, 328B Loeb, F.C. Babbitt
Moralia, Others

“Cato used to assert that wise men profited more by fools than fools by wise men; for that wise men avoided the faults of fools, but that fools would not imitate the good examples of wise men.”

Plutarch

Life of Marcus Cato
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

Men , Fools

“It is wise to be silent when occasion requires, and better than to speak, though never so well.”

Plutarch book Moralia

Moralia, Of the Training of Children

“Cato requested old men not to add the disgrace of wickedness to old age, which was accompanied with many other evils.”

Plutarch

Cato the Elder
Roman Apophthegms

Men , Age , Evil

“A Roman divorced from his wife, being highly blamed by his friends, who demanded, "Was she not chaste? Was she not fair? Was she not fruitful?" holding out his shoe, asked them whether it was not new and well made. "Yet," added he, "none of you can tell where it pinches me."”

Plutarch book Parallel Lives

Aemilius Paulus, sec. 29
Parallel Lives

Shoe

“Fate, however, is to all appearance more unavoidable than unexpected.”

Plutarch book Parallel Lives

Parallel Lives, Caesar

Fate , Appearance

“These are the materials for reflection which history affords to those who choose to make use of them.”

Plutarch book Parallel Lives

Aemilius, sec. 5
Parallel Lives

History

“Scilurus on his death-bed, being about to leave four-score sons surviving, offered a bundle of darts to each of them, and bade them break them. When all refused, drawing out one by one, he easily broke them,—thus teaching them that if they held together, they would continue strong; but if they fell out and were divided, they would become weak.”

Plutarch

31 Scilurus
Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders

Death , Strong , Drawing

“For water continually dropping will wear hard rocks hollow.”

Plutarch book Moralia

Moralia, Of the Training of Children

Water

“Alexander said, "I assure you I had rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and dominion."”

Plutarch

Life of Alexander
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

Knowledge

“Athenodorus says hydrophobia, or water-dread, was first discovered in the time of Asclepiades.”

Plutarch

Symposiacs, book viii. Question IX
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

Water , Time

“And this," said Cæsar, "you know, young man, is more disagreeable for me to say than to do.”

Plutarch book Parallel Lives

Parallel Lives, Caesar

“Thrasyllus the Cynic begged a drachm of Antigonus. "That," said he, "is too little for a king to give." "Why, then," said the other, "give me a talent." "And that," said he, "is too much for a Cynic (or, for a dog) to receive."”

Plutarch

45 Antigonus I
Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders

Dogs

“Being nimble and light-footed, his father encouraged him to run in the Olympic race. "Yes," said he, "if there were any kings there to run with me."”

Plutarch

41 Alexander
Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders

Light

“After he routed Pharnaces Ponticus at the first assault, he wrote thus to his friends: "I came, I saw, I conquered."”

Plutarch

Cæsar
Roman Apophthegms

“Socrates said he was not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.”

Plutarch

Of Banishment
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
Variant: Socrates said he was not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.

World

“Themistocles said that a man's discourse was like to a rich Persian carpet, the beautiful figures and patterns of which can be shown only by spreading and extending it out; when it is contracted and folded up, they are obscured and lost.”

Plutarch

Life of Themistocles

Beauty